First, I ask that you choose an online dating website/smartphone app:
•You may have to do a quick google search, as there are a vast number of online dating platforms now. I encourage you to choose a dating website/app you are not as familiar with, but it is up to you. Choose a different app, any app. I caution against choosing Tinder, as there is not much to it. Be creative here. Even look up “dating websites or apps” on google. I am sure there is a long list.•This does not have to be a dating website/app that you would use or do currently use, but just one that you are interested in researching and writing about for this discussion.•Next, you are asked to answer questions about that dating website/app.•Following,you are asked to answer some questions about online dating as it relates to ideas within social psychology - specifically, on the topic of interpersonal attraction and relationships.•Afterwards, you are being asked to reflect on how online dating has changed dating and romantic relationships and what the pros and cons are of it when it comes to initiating and maintaining romantic relationships.
*NOTE.If you really want to write about a specific dating website/app, but you cannot get the information you need for the discussion without creating your own account, feel free to get an account temporarily if you'd really like to discuss that particular website/app (you can of course delete your account afterwards unless you want to keep it for personal reasons). If you are unable or do not want to get an account for the one you wanted to choose, just choose a different website/app that will enable you to answer the discussion questions without creating your own account.*
Then provide the following information in your assignment:
1.State which dating website/app you chose to research and why you chose it. Briefly mention how the process of researching the website/app was for you (e.g., did you temporarily get an account? did you find information on the dating website/app, or perhaps another related and reputable website?).2.Does the dating website/app you chose seem to be aimed at helping people get into long-term romantic relationships or is it more specific tohooking-up/casual sex relationships?Explain your reasoning here.3.Related to #2, does the website/app seem to be aimed at a specific demographic/population? Which demographic do you think would use this app the most? Why?4.Are there any claims on the website/app about its success in getting people into romantic relationships orhooking-up? (e.g., "6/10 people who use ______ ___get into a relationship within a few months!"). Provide an example of a dating success claim that is made on the website/app. If there are no claims made, comment on why that might be the case.5.What sort of questions are being asked on the dating website/app to gauge compatibilityin order tobetter match people? (e.g., political views, personality, etc.). Can users post pictures? How many? etc.Be specific as to the kind of information that is asked on the dating website/app.6.Based on your answer to question #5, how does the information collected on the dating website/app map on to the attributes people offer and seek proposed by theories or perspectives in attraction and relationships in social psychology? Based on what you have read,note the degree to which the factors used to evaluate compatibility on the dating website are effective in matching people.Explain your reasoning.7.How has online dating changed the process of initiating romantic relationships? Think about this one by reflecting on how people found romantic partners before online dating.Provide afew specific ways that online dating has changed the process of relationship initiation.8.Related to #7, what are some of the pros and cons of online dating? Do these pros and cons potentially differ by gender? What about sexual orientation (if you chose a website that is not for heterosexuals)? What else?Delve deeply here, speculate, and explain your thinking using research and ideas from your readings.